FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2021

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

Glenville, WV – Glenville State College (GSC) sophomore Jesse Kargol has taken a passion that started in high school to the national level. Kargol, an education major at GSC, will participate in the 2021 SkillsUSA Competition in June in the Welding Sculpture category.

Kargol’s interest in welding began during his freshman year of high school when he enrolled at the Calhoun-Gilmer Career and Technical Center. “I was a homeschooled student, and I wanted to play high school sports, so I had to become a public school student. Being at the Career and Technical Center, I was able to do that,” said Kargol. “I thought it would be important for me to learn how to do things on my own and not hire someone to do it, so I took the welding class. It took me at least two months to be able to get it, and then one day, it just clicked for me.” During his time at the Career and Technical Center, Kargol served as Class Supervisor and was responsible for attending meetings, coordinating with employers, and leading his classmates.

Kargol also incorporates his passion for creating traditional art into his welding designs. “I’ve liked to draw for as long as I can remember. I started painting after I watched Bob Ross, and I realized that I could take my art further than just paper,” said Kargol. During his time at the Career and Technical Center, he became a certified welder in all positions of shielded metal arc welding.

“Carl Collins has been my welding instructor my entire experience, and I'd like to thank him for seeing the potential I had,” adds Kargol.

Kargol competed for and won the state competition in April of this year, and he will represent West Virginia against 49 other state winners in June. The competition consists of a knowledge test, an interview, and judging of the sculpture piece. Kargol’s piece, titled “SkillsUSA Emblem,” was inspired by the emblem on the SkillsUSA skillset uniform.